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2026-2027 Academic Year

Fall 2026

BIOL 314 Ecology w/Lab
Study of the interactions of organisms with each other, and with their environment, at the level of the individual, the population, the community, and the ecosystem. Lectures and readings consider both the theory of ecology and data from empirical research in the classic and current literature. Laboratory and field studies explore how ecologists perform quantitative tests of hypotheses about complex systems in nature. Six hours classroom a week. Prerequisites: One 200-level Biology course. For ENST/ENSC majors only, prerequisite is ENST 162. For Neuroscience majors only, prerequiste is NRSC 200.

BIOL 401 Research in Vertebrate Biology
Students in this course will engage in hands-on research projects collecting data on vertebrate animals throughout the semester. After reading and discussing peer-reviewed journal articles, we will develop hypotheses and predictions to address our questions. Students will choose among several research projects addressing the morphology, physiology, and/or behavior of vertebrates focusing specifically on amphibians and reptiles. In small research teams, we will design and execute experiments, analyze data using the R programming environment, and present our results. Midway through the semester, each research team will share their specific methodology with the broader group so all students can develop a working knowledge of several state-of-the-art field and laboratory skills. Additional emphasis will be placed on how to develop animal care and use protocols that are necessary for any research involving vertebrate animals. This course fulfills the research requirement for the biology major.

Spring 2027

BIOL 332 Natural History of Vertebrates
An exploration into the lifestyles of vertebrates heavily focused on field biology. Natural history is strongly dependent on descriptive anatomy and systematics and therefore this course will cover the evolutionary relationships among vertebrates highlighting unique features that facilitated the success of the major groups. In field labs, students will develop observational skills such as how to identify a bird by its song, a frog by its call, a mammal by the color of its pelage, and a snake by its shed skin. Indoor labs will focus on identifying species from preserved specimens as well as providing students with the skills necessary to preserve vertebrates for future study. Preservation methods could include preparing museum-quality mammal and bird skins, formalin fixation of fish, and skeletal preparations. Three hours classroom and three hours laboratory a week. Prerequisites: one 200-level biology course or GEOS 307. Offered every two years.